Fraud preventive check entrance



oct. 11, 1932. i A ,1 KNEE 1,882,506v

FRAUD PREVENTIVE CHECK ENTRANCE Filed May 16, 1950 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AARON A. KNEE, F CHARLOTTELNORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESN E ASSIGNMENTS, TO VANAK CORPORATION, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, A COR- PORATION 0F NORTI-IKCAROLINA FRAUD PREVENTIVE CHECK ENTRANCE This invention relates to a check entrance n or coin entrance for a check or coin controlled apparatus in which means are provided for normally closing the check entrance and in which means are also provided for causing the entrance to be opened by the insertion therein of a check of a given diameter and also of a given thickness,which check entrance is adapted to remain in closed position unless a check is inserted therein of predetermined thickness and diameter.,

An object of my invention is to provide a check entrance for check controlled apparatus in which the check entrance is normally closed so as to prevent the insertion therein of any foreign article whatsoever, said check entrance being adapted to be opened by the insertion therein of a predetermined check both as to diameter and thickness, the insertion of a given check therein being adapted to cooperate with means in said'check entrance to allow said check entrance to be opened and locked in opened position, andV to be released from said locked position by the falling of the check from the check entrance downwardly into the check controlled apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a check entrance which is normally closed and which check entrance can not be opened except by the insertion therein of a check of predetermined thickness and size, the insertion in said check entrance of any other check orv article which is not of a predetermined size both as to thickness and circumference causing the check entrance to remain in locked or closed position and therefore will prevent the insertion into the check entrance of any article other than a given check for which the machine is built to operate in connection with. i

Some of the objects ofmy invention having been stated other objects will appear as i the description proceeds,'when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which: A

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my check entrance;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

n Figure 4 is a vertical section of the lower portion of the check entrance taken along the line 4-14 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view of one of the levers 17.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 1() indicates a casing such as that of acheck controlled apparatus and the numeral 11 indicates another portion of said casing, in which my device is adapted to be installed. Mounted in a circular opening in the member 11 is a circular shell member 12 and mounted in a circular opening in the casing is another circular member 13, the said member 13 having interior threads therein which are adapted to threadably engage a restricted portion of the casing 12 to form a complete casing for the housing of the mechanism for regulating the insertion of a check into the device. The member t12 has an inwardly sloping circular hole 14 and immediately to the rear of this inwardly sloping or restricted hole 14 is a larger circular groove 15, in which a wire 16 is mounted and running rearwardly or axially of the entrance portion are a plurality of grooves ink which n the levers 17 are loosely mounted, and 'midway between the ends of said levers 17 there appears a circular groove 18 on the inside surface of shell member 12, in which a ycircular tension spring or endless tension spring 19 is mounted, the purpose of this spring 19 being to normally force the levers 17 inwardly toward each other. These levers 17 have an inwardly sloping shoulder portion 20 and to the rear of this sloping portion 20 is another sloping portion 21 and toward the free end of each of the levers 17 is a notch 22 which is of smaller width thanv the thickness of the check which is adapted to be operated in connection with vthis device.v The cutting of the notch 22 leaves a projection 23, the purpose of which will be presently described.

Slidably mounted in the interior of the shell member 12 is a circular member 25 which has a hole 26 therethrough, in which the pin 27 is adapted to have sliding movement, said pin 27 also being slidably mounted in a hole penetrating the central portion of the member 13. This pin 27 has a flange 28 thereon to limit the movement of said pin rearwardly, and a compression spring 29 is mounted around said pin 27 and one end of said compression spring is adapted to rest against the flange 28 and the other end thereof is adapted to rest against the rear face of the circular member 25 to normally force the circular member 25 to the right hand in Figure 2 against the front portion of the vshell member 12. rl`his member 25 has an angular groove which is Tshaped in cross-section, around the front or face portion thereof, said groove being indicated by the reference character 30, and said groove being T-shaped in cross-section is therefore restricted as to the portion between the base thereof and the opened end which. faces toward the front of the device, thus-forming the shoulders36a and 37 a with which the enlarged portions 23 and 23a of the. levers 17 are adapted to cooperate.

Through the lower portion of the shell member 12 is a slot 35 and connected to the shell. member 12 or made integral therewith as desired is the chute 36 which has a passageway 37 therein which is in alinement with the slot 35 to form a passageway for the check to fall downwardly into the check controlled vapparatusv after being forced into the check entrance and locking the member 25 in posi@ tion.V A slot 38` is cut in the side wall of the member 12 and a pin 39 is mounted therein on which a lever 4() is pivotally mounted, said lever 40 having the slightly sloping end por tion; 41 which is adapted to fall in the path of the member 25 when the same is forced back.- wardly to hold thesame in locked position, this being done by means of the heavy portion 43 of the member 40 and also the lever44 which projects downwardly and fits into .the cut. away portion 45 and into the path of the checlras it falls downwardly through the pasl sageway 37, the striking of` the check against the lower end o-f the lever 44 releasing the member 25 and causing it 'to be moved to the right in Figure 2 by means of the tension spring 29 to occupy a closed position. l

The levers 17 are pivoted on the member 16 as fat 17 a and it is evident that when the check 46 is inserted into the device andthe check presses against the sloping portions 20 that the levers or `dogs 17 will spread apart, and when the check passes the highest part on surfaces20 and rests on surfaces 21 the spring 19 pulls the free end of the levers inwardly -against theA coin which will hold the proj ecti on 23 out of the path of circular projection 37a. The beveled portion 24 engages the projection 37a and thus causes the levers to swing on their pivots so that the ends of the levers can pass into groove 30 and permit projection 23 to engage projection 37a. A ring member 16bis embedded in the surface of hole 14 but ring member 165 is larger than check 46 and the Vcheclr and also by the thickness thereof.

It is evident that, if the check V46 were thinner that theriglit hand yportion of said check i would rest further down on the slope 21, and

this would allow' the projection 23 to engage the circular projection 37a and prevent the opening of the slot by preventing the member25 from being. pushed backwardly by the pressure eiterted on the coin or check 46. It is also evident that if the coin or check 46 were of the same thickness as that shown in the drawing. but of less circumference that the same effect would be produced, and the slot would remainA closed. y

It is'also evident that if the check is very much larger'than that shown in the drawing that the same would not pass up the'sloping portion- 20'and' would not be admitted into the entranceY at all.

In the drawing and specification I have set forth a preferred embodiment of my in vention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense, only, and not for purposes of limitation, thescope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

A I claim: v

1. In a check entrance for check controlled apparatus, means for normally closingV said check entrance, means for moving the closing means to closed position, means for locking said'closing means in closed position, said locking means being yoperable by the thickness andv circumferenceA of an inserted check for unlocking the closing. means and allowing the same to assume an opened position when pressure is applied to the check, means for holding the closing Vmeans in openedposition and means controlled by said check for releasing the closing means to allow the same to assume a normalposition of kclosing the check entrance.

2. yIn a check entrance for check controlledl apparatus, a shell member, a slidable closure member mounted in said shell member, means for holding said closure member in a position toclose said check entrance, a plurality of pivoted members axially dis- Vposed insaid shell member, means on said pivoted members for engaging the closing means for holding the same in closed position, means on Asaid pivoted members adaptn ed to engage the yperiphery of an inserted check'and to be controlled by both the circumference and the thickness of the check for determining whether the closing means shall be released to cause the closing means to assume an open position where pressure is-appliedto the Icheck, means for holding the closing means in open position and means controlled by the passing of the check through the mechanism for releasing the closing means to cause the same to assume a normal closed position.

3. In a cheek entrance for check controlled apparatus, a shell member having a hole therein through which a check is adapted to be inserted, a slidable plunger member normally closing said hole, means for holding said plunger member in position to close the said hole, a plurality of pivoted members disposed around said hole and having operative engagement with said plunger member to normally lock said plunger member in normal-closed position, said pivoted members having means thereon adapted to be engaged by an inserted check of predetermined thickness and circumference to cause said pivoted members to assume a position to allow said plunger member to be moved to open position when pressure is applied to the inserted check, means for holding said plunger member in open position and means operable by the falling of the check after passing through said entrance to unlock said means for holding said plunger member in open position and to allow the plunger to assume a closed position.

fi. In a check entrance for check controlled apparatus, having an opening through which a check is adapted to be inserted sidewise, a slidable member for closing the entrance, resilient means for normally holding said slidable member in a position to close the entra-nce, a plurality of dog members disposed around the periphery of the opening and being pivotally mounted at their forward ends, the free ends of the dogs having projections on both edges thereof, the face of the slidable member being recessed to receive the free ends of said dogs, tension means for normally forcing the free ends of the dogs toward each other to engage the walls of the recesses to lock the slidable member in closed position, cam surfaces on the edges of said dogs adapted to be engaged by a check of proper size to position the dogs so that pressure exerted on the slidable member may move it to open position, means for locking the slidable member in open position, and means operable by the falling check after it passes through the entrance for unlocking said means for looking the slidable member in open position.

5. In a check entrance for check controlled apparatus having an opening through which a check can only be inserted sidewise, means for normally closing the entrance, a plurality of members having one end thereof pivotally mounted in the wall of the opening and having their other ends normally engaging the closing means, a portion of each of said pivoted members being so formed as to engage the periphery of a check ing for unlocking the locking means and allowing the closing means to move to normal position. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AARON A. KNEE. 

